“Grandaunt Gangak is the only Gak in generations who has formed a name for herself, but the Seventh Hope spoke so poorly of her. The Gak family has yet to recover from the betrayal of the East Aldish during the Demonic Devastation, and it is the East Aldish have spoken poorly of my grandaunt? She who fought while they were in no danger, for who attacks the Order of Life’s Rose upon the battlefield? You remain safe within your medical tents, your symbol emblazoned for all to see, and all to avoid.”

“What did the East Aldish do to the Gak family during the Demonic Devastation?” Mother Priest asked.

“Hmph! While the Order of Life’s Rose remained away from the battlefield when they were needed most, it was Jogak the Firestorm who fought upon the battlefield, slaying demon after demon. It was only after he was bloody and half dead, when the Order of Life’s Rose should have helped him, it was then the Duke and the Aldishmen around him acted no different to demons. A blade struck through the chest, and another through the throat. His cousins, Gingak the Inferno, and Gangak the Blade, who slew not one, but two generals, were slaughtered with not the blades of demons, but the blades of the Aldish.”

‘Damn,’ Adam thought, seeing how Jaygak of all Iyrmen was putting the ire into Iyrman.

“How many years does one have to go back to find a Gak who has done as well as my grandaunt? How many centuries? The Rot family has so many names, one does not need to even stray away from those named Jarot. Jarot the Mad Dog, but before him there was another Jarot, he who had defeated Zalander of the Wastes, and what of the Jarot who became a warlord in Aswadasad? Or the Jarot who brought back one of the Fifty Red Blades back to the Iyr, only to find another two in his future adventures? I do not even need to mention the most famous of all, he who brought my ancestors to the land, freeing us from the clutches of the blue tyrants!”

Jurot slowly nodded his head, for he, as a member of the Rot family, had learnt about the tales of all the Jarots, while being responsible for telling Jaygak the tales as they grew.

“How many Kans have become Chiefs? It is even expected of Amokan to become a Chief, and if not a Chief, one of the aides of the Chief, for there are many Jins who have become Chiefs too. Even Kitool, your grandaunt is one of few Iymen who have reached the level of Paragon, that which puts her name along the King’s Sword, the Grand Commander of the Thousand Hunts.”

The words rippled through the air, for the knowledge that Kitool was related to a Paragon was not something which was secret, but it wasn’t quite so eagerly stated, not unless it was relevant to the situation. There were many Paragons in the Iyr, but it was often not said so loudly, not quite so obviously.

“Before your grandaunt, it was only a handful of generations before her that we have another Ool, that of Jinool, whose only loss was to that age’s King’s Sword. What of the Gaks of that time? Our metals are those of Steel and Silver, not the Mithril and Gold that you know.”

Kitool bowed her head lightly, reaching out to place a hand against her friend’s thigh gently.

“Even Bavin who has joined us, his grandfather was the previous Elder Wrath,” Jaygak said. “What shame can he know when his grandfather is spoken so poorly of? The only shame he knows is that he can barely keep his mouth shut, lest the laughter pours out like the blood his grandfather has spilled to earn his place.”

Mother Priest’s eyes fell to Bavin, who nodded his head slowly, sitting up taller with pride. The boy had been so quiet, like a looming oak tree, and had seem so docile, but upon hearing his grandfather’s title, he sat up taller, and his eyes were no doubt the eyes of an Iyrman.

“No. None of you know the shame that only a Gak can know. Nirot does not need to look towards her grandfather, she can look beside me. Her cousin fought in his first tournament and earned first place, only barely defeating the one who Faool can look towards. What of Laygak? Who can he look at, if not Flame Brand? You of the Rot family, you of the Kan family, you of the Ool family, you do not know.”

Her eyes snapped to the Seventh Hope, who stood awkwardly. “Look at the Aldishman. He sees me speaking, his eyes full of contempt. Do you know why they look at me like that? They do not see my tattoos, they see my red skin, my horns. They do not think we are Iyrmen, they do not even look at Uwajin the same way, with her grey skin, her tusks. No, they see savages of the Iyr, but when they look at me, they see devilkin. A devilkin who dares not accept their empty apology.”

“I mean what I said, miss Jaygak.”

“Kah!” Jaygak snarled. “I know you meant what you said. You believe my grandaunt to be a crippled elder who should not have fought. You have no idea who my grandmother is, for she fought in Aswadasad. She fought so viciously and fervently, various orders had to join together to force her out.”

“…”

“Do you see his eyes? This East Aldishman? He does not believe my words. Grandaunt, if she stepped here, not the Seventh, not the Sixth, not even the Fifth Hope could fell her. I will allow the Fourth and Third to claim they could not be easily beaten, but it is only the First Hope and the Second Hope who could dare to even suggest they could defeat her. My grandaunt who fought against a foe which was so terrifying, no members of your order dared to step close, not until the war was over, and yet I had to hear of your slander of my grandaunt?”

“You have made your point, Iyrman,” Hope Robert said.

“No,” Jaygak said, standing, her eyes glaring into the First Hope’s eyes. “You have no rights to end my words. You, who tried to deflect justice for my grandaunt. You who claim darkness within the temple to Mahtu. You who see my friends with only wickedness where there is none.”

Adam stood up a little straighter, for Jaygak’s words swallowed the people around.

“Even when we allowed you to save face, allowing the Marshal of the East to leave. Even when you denied me my story, for I had to step back from facing Sir Ivy to appease your ego, you on your steed, believing yourself to have ended a fight. Then you dare to suggest we should pay for the deaths you denied us? It was we, Baktu’s chosen, who had spilled blood. It was Adam, chosen by Lord Sozain himself, who sanctified the death.”

Adam reached up to his amulet, feeling the coolness against his fingers.

“Yet, we gave you your honour. We disarmed ourselves, at the request of our cousin, and you grow your courage to speak ill of we Iyrmen? You dare ask for coin for the lives you denied us? Where was such when we were armed? Where as such when my grandaunt risked her life to protect the people of this land?”

Jaygak’s eyes snapped to the rest of the Hopes and Rays around. “Forty Nine Rays and Seven Hopes. I count fifty six, barely half what the Iyr sends to assist the Aldishmen. Each of those Iyrmen could slaughter any of your Rays, for though we sent only the old and crippled, those are enough to deal with you Aldishmen.”

“Enough, Iyrman,” Hope Robert called out. “You have made your point.”

Jaygak’s eyes glared towards the Hope once more. “What will you do if I keep speaking of your cowardice?”

“I ask merely for your understanding.”

“Understanding?” Adam asked, his face darkening. “Understanding. The Gak family are nothing but understanding. It was the Gak family, my grandaunt, the very same who had been slandered, who accepted my children with her whole heart. She accepted them, even when others viewed them as unacceptable.”

Jurot felt a tingle at the back of his head, and no longer did he sit so tall and proud, with Nirot’s shoulders also deflating. Dunes crossed his arms, his eyes falling to the floor, his thoughts silent. Amira reached out to rub his arm gently.

“Even now, Executive Jaygak has shown more understanding to all of you than you have shown to me, First Hope.” Adam continued to glare at the First Hope.

“All I hear is that your order was so great upon the battlefield, safe within your tents,” Jaygak continued, her eyes narrowing. “I hear how great you were mediating between the two sides, but who was it who escorted King Merryweather back to Floria with guarantees for his life? Was it the Order of Life’s Rose, but that of the Iyr’s Great Elder, Elder Peace, who you would call a devilkin?”

“It was not just the Iyr which assisted in the war,” Hope Robert said. “The appropriate dues have been paid.”

“No,” Jaygak said. “Like how the Gak family must work twice as hard to earn half the recognition, it is the Iyr which works twice as hard as the order, and receives but half the recognition as the order.”

First Hope Robert narrowed his eyes. “I will consider it your youth which has you speaking so viciously.”

“Hah!” Jaygak’s lips formed a smile. “When it is the Order of Life’s Rose which speaks so poorly, it is the recklessness of the young, but when it is the Iyr, it is the viciousness of the young.”

“You speak to me viciously, and so I will reply that you have spoken viciously.”

“The only thing which is vicious, is the audacity of your East Aldish,” Jaygak said, before pointing at the older man. “Heed my words, Order of Life’s Rose. Though I, Jaygak, am young and vicious, it is nothing compared to those who will come after me. My cousin, Laygak, fights well. My cousin, Taygak, grows well in the Iyr. My brother, Raygak, though he may not be as smart as I, or as charming as I, possess all he needs to make a name for himself.”

Jaygak raised her hand so it was at head level, so the First Hope could undoubtedly know who she was speaking to specifically. “It may not be this year, it may not be this decade, but heed my words, Order of Life’s Rose. Within this generation, a Gak will come. It may even be my cousin Laygak, who sits so politely before you all, lest you call him vicious for sitting peacefully. A Gak will come. They will come, and even the First Hope will swallow his courage before them, as you have when we Iyrmen take to the fields, as you do when we carry our blades and wear our armour, as you will when Executive Adam beats your First Hope.”

Adam raised his brows in surprise, standing still half undressed of puthral.

“The business will offer you your gold for the lives you denied us, but you will earn it. We will offer an additional thousand gold for your cowardly coffers, two thousand gold total, and if you beat our Executive, we will increase it to four thousand. If we win, we will ask nothing of you, for what do we need from the order we Iyrmen cannot take for ourselves?”

‘Jaygak…’ Adam could feel her fury even from where he stood.

“As for your apology, you may keep it where you keep your honour and your pride, in the latrines,” Jaygak snarled. “Where you East Aldishmen remain while we Iyrmen, even we Gaks, slaughter our way through the land, while the Order of Life’s Rose looks upon the river, wondering when the fish will crawl for them.”

The First Hope closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. The words she had spoken in the Holy Temple of Our Great Mother, had been too much. He could not step back now, not that he wanted to, not when the wicked fool was still there.

“You have recently fought Hope Thomas,” Robert said, his voice cold, but even. “You may rest for the night, and we will duel upon the morning, lest they say we have treated you unfairly.”

“No,” came the response.

Mana: 21 -> 18
Wraith: 0 -> 3

“There’s no need for me to rest.”

Robert turned his head, staring at the young half elf, whose lips were painted in the most smug smile.

Did he really intend to face two Hopes one after another?

Robert’s eyes remained focused on Adam’s eyes, which were so hungry.

‘No,’ Vonda thought, her heart pounding wildly within her chest with the stress.

Adam intended to beat two Hopes one after another.

LET'S GO!